Former White Sox reliever says rookies slept in bullpen during game

Middleton was traded to the New York Yankees just before the Aug. 1 deadline.

Among the details revealed by the righty were that rookies slept in the bullpen during games.

"We came in with no rules," Middleton said, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "I don't know how you police the culture if there are no rules or guidelines to follow because everyone is doing their own thing. Like, how do you say anything about it because there are no rules? ... You have rookies sleeping in the bullpen during the game. You have guys missing meetings. You have guys missing PFPs (pitcher fielding practices), and there are no consequences for any of this stuff."

Middleton was one of a number of players moved by Chicago ahead of the trade deadline, as they were clear sellers in a lost season. The White Sox (45-68) have the fourth-worst record in MLB under first-year manager Pedro Grifol and traded former All-Star starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn among others.

Middleton played the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Angels from 2017-2021, before spending last year with the Seattle Mariners. He signed with Chicago in January and has gone 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings pitched across 41 outings between the White Sox and Yankees. Middleton's pitched three perfect innings and recorded five strikeouts in two appearances since joining New York.

According to Rogers' report, multiple sources "corroborated Middleton's account to ESPN" and said a pitcher was "seen napping during games as well as skipping fielding practice." Rogers wrote that the White Sox were contacted on Sunday night about Middleton's claims but had no comment.

Per the report, Middleton said that the issues in Chicago were happening prior to this season.

"When I got to spring training, I heard a lot of the same stuff was happening last year," he said. "It's happening again this year, so not sure how I could change it. They don't tell you not to miss PFPs. They don't tell you not to miss meetings, and if it happens, it's just, 'OK.'"

Middleton and the Yankees will begin a three-game series in Chicago on Monday night.